[Rajkv]

Have a Zen which i have been using for 4 years now and want to move up the value chain. Am a novice when it comes to understanding the working of a car, but love driving.

Some criteria/requirements i have were(note that these are not hard and fast)

1. Prefer a diesel so that it will not pinch my pocket hard, drive around 30 KMs a day
2. Spacious and stylish, preferably fully loaded
3. Good pickup and Power
4. A budget of 10 +/-1 lakhs, my main idea was not to have an EMI over 20K
5. Maintenance costs and resale
6. Not a big fan of the US made cars(Ford,GM)

I initially had the following cars in my mind

1. Honda Civic
2. Skoda RS
3. Hyundai Verna

But after reading most posts on the forum and applying some of the criteria/requirements i have, i still am not able to decide. Have come to terms that every car has it problems after reading some of the posts here. Am more inclined towards a verna now as it matches some of the criteria i have. But still seek opinion on it, or any other car or SUV. Note that i have not yet test driven any of these, just visited the Honda Showroom in Bangalore but was not able to TD the car, have driven an uncles automatic though.

[shan_jp]

I think you have only following 3 diesel options to choose from in your budget..

1) Optra Magnum (10.5L)
2) Fiest Zxi (8.8L)
3) Skoda Rider 1.9 TDI (11.5L)

My choice would be 3 , 1 or 2 in that order. Skoda people are voicing high maintanence costs. My friend owns one and dont find it that bad.

[Strider]

Of the cars you mentioned only the Verna falls within your budget - the Civic costs upward of 12 lakhs on road (and there's no diesel) and even the basic Octavia RS would set you back by Rs 12 lakh plus.

The Verna is a diesel, has massive power, and well built - like all Hyundai cars these days. Even the fully loaded version should be yours for much less than 10 lakhs. There is, however, a catch - it is not quite the driver's car (given that you love driving and have been driving a Zen till now). It is a good highway cruiser and (if magazines are to be believed) an average performer in corners.

The Octavia is a decent platform for driving enthusiasts, in both petrol and diesel forms. If the budget is stretchable, then this is your car - especially given its good mileage.

The Civic - for this, the budget has to be stretchable AND you must be ready for a petrol car - i.e. two compromises.

Take a TD of the Verna and take a decision, all the best.

~Strider

[lamborghini]

While the Verna may fit all your requirements do remember that it is not the epitome of reliability, has very poor breaks, is unsafe at high speeds and the interior quality is not great.
Search for Verna related topics and you will come across a few incidences.
I think you should be looking at either the Fiesta SXI w/ ABS or the Magnum LT, even though you don't like American cars.
They both fit your requirements to the tee.
Go do a TD of both and then decide.
Is there any reason you don't like american cars?

[hvkumar]

Why not Toyota Innova - diesel, reliable, within your budget, spacious, economical?

If you wait a while (a coupleof months?), you shoudl see the new Scorpio Eagle which should be in your budget range.

Verna is an unpopular car, should be phased out soon.

Civic may not give you the frugal fuel consumption that you are looking for.

Skoda Octavia may be the best diesel car in its range, but then how much do you like it?

[sushrutha]

Why not these options
Chevrolet Magnum - I know u r not a big fan of US cars, but still u can consider this
Innova Diesel
Safari Dicor VX 2.2L

[Rajkv]

I have nothing specific against US cars, have heard enough negative feedback abt ford service centers, Chevy have never been a good fan of theirs. Like i said i never really tried to get deep into the workings of a car am more of a good user of the car.

I have had a zen so far and it has been a tried and tested car in India and it has never given me any problems(touchwood), so i want something like it within my new budget.

Are there any petrol cars which i shud probably start considering??? Or the new Safari Dicor?

[VC12]

Check out Ford Fiesta ltd edition called Fida it come with some spiced up changes and features like indicator on ORVM's etc and the price too is neat 6.6 lacs.

Fiesta 1.6 SXI Fida is gr8 drivers car.


Cheers!!!

[vnabhi]

Originally Posted by VC12

Check out Ford Fiesta ltd edition called Fida it come with some spiced up changes and features like indicator on ORVM's etc and the price too is neat 6.6 lacs.

Fiesta 1.6 SXI Fida is gr8 drivers car.


Cheers!!!

I agree 100% with this opinion.

[GTO]

Rajkv,

Firstly, you drive 30 kms a day on working days right? Therefore, your monthly running should be around 700 - 750 kms. Even if you do drive 30 kms x 30 days, a diesel car makes absolutely no sense as it will barely save you 2000 bucks a month on fuel. Consider also the EMI differential between a diesel and a petrol.....thats hardly any net saving.

What I highly recommend to you is the Civic. Its modern, spacious, powerful, great to drive, cheap to service, looks good inside and out and is mighty reliable. There really is no serious negative to this machine and it suits your needs to the T.

You will be happiest with this Honda. Test-drive and then update us.

[alexrabbi]

1.Chevy magnum is good ( but you don't prefer US made)
2.Mitsu Cedia ( not heavy on your pocket and gives all that you are looking)
3.Honda Civic - Good choice too, but costlier than cedia

Civic has good interiors etc..
Cedia i believe you get even company fitted LGP-petrol option

[AirWind]

Originally Posted by alexrabbi

1.Chevy magnum is good ( but you don't prefer US made)
2.Mitsu Cedia ( not heavy on your pocket and gives all that you are looking)
3.Honda Civic - Good choice too, but costlier than cedia

Civic has good interiors etc..
Cedia i believe you get even company fitted LGP-petrol option

I think Cedia will suit your bill, its looks gr8 (sports trim), power, build quality, and is a pure drivers car - take a test ride and decide for yourself.

[csentil]

But the 1.8S Civic MT costs 12.9+ lakhs OTR in Bangalore. Isn't that way over budget.

[abhilashvk]

I would want to add SRV Diesel to the list suggested in the forum- Stylist with 130 bhp power and the ex showroom price of 7.30 L, so OTR 8.3 L approx. It might not be as spacious like a magnum and is a Chevy -GM. If not Verna VGT SX ABS sounds the best choice. OTR Bangalore - 9.56L+ add 50K for tyre upgrade and alloys.

[VMG]

Cedia is great man. Go for it. Especially the sprots one is rocks.